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BREACHED AT PLYMOUTH, N. H., 



ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF 



COL. DAVID WEBSTER, 



■VfHO DIED MAY 0, 1824, !N THE 8(5th X^AR QF HIS AG^. 



— i;^?^^:^— 



By JONATHAN WARD. 



PLYMOUTH : 

PRINTED BY H. E. MO ORB. 

1824. 



HilOv:.v- 



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Psalm xc. 10. 

The days of our years are threescore years artd 
ten; and if by reason of strength they he four' 
score years, yet is their strength labour and sor- 
row ;for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 

This psalm is entitled a prayer of Moses the 
man of God ; and was undoubtedly written by 
that eminent servant of Jehovah, while leading 
the children of Israel through the wilderness. 
About that time it is probable the life of man 
was reduced to the present standard of threescore 
years and ten. In the first ages of the world 
men lived nearly a thousand years. But their 
lives were gradually shortened, till brought with- 
in the narrow bounds of threescore years and ten. 
This seems to be a general standard, though some 
exceed this period, and many die before they have 
reached it. No age is exempt from the arrests of 
death. Were life invariably fixed to a particular 
period, and all were to live so long, or nearly so 
long, it would have a powerful tendency to lead 
mankind^ before that period of life approached, to 
dismiss all care or concern about their souls, and 
to live at ease. And the certain approach of 
death, when the period of their dissolution was 
nigh, w^ould often unman them, and unfit the»^ 
to pay a proper attention either to their tern*?' 
ral or spiritual interests, and would occasion ^^^^ 
friends great animosity and distress. Thr^^^^^' 
though as a general standard "Our age tc^eventy 
1 



years is'set," yeft by protracting the lives of some 
longer, and removing others at every age down to 
infancy, God has wisely and kindly concealed 
from all the number of their days, and the time 
of their departure, that " a wise care of piety" 
may "fit them to die," and dwell with Christ in 
glory. When any are born, it is entirely uncer- 
tain whether they will die in childhood, youth, 
or middle age, or whether they will live till their 
locks are withered by the frosts of numerous win- 
ters. Though in the counsels of heaven, or pur- 
poses of the Almighty, the period of each one's 
life is fixed, yet it is not disclosed to mortal eye. 
Though " there is an appointed time to man up- 
on earth, and his bounds he cannot pass," and 
though "the number of his months are with 
God," yet it is not for man to know how long his 
race will be before he comes to the end of it. 
Though many -'do not live out half their days," 
as it respects the fixed period of threescore years 
and ten; though they do not live half of seventy 
years, but are cut off in the midst of their days, 
yet they live their appointed time. And some 
have a longer peritd than seventy years assigned 
them as the state of their probation, even eighty 
years,or upwards. But ^-if by reason of strength," 
and uncommon firmness oi: constitution, " they 
be fourscore years," yet is the '• strength" of these 
remaining years, beyond the common life of man, 
" iabfiur and sorrow." 

However vigorous the constitution nf any is, 

le burdens of seventy or eiglity years usually 

I'ak it dovvU, and the infirro.itieK of a-^e press 

Tuly upon them. Their strength is so far im- 

I)anV j^g i^y ii^ake it a labor to perform any bodily 

exercL ^^^y f^^f^i'^xm tlieir '• crazy" fi'ame. And 

y ^^i^rience much sorrow, and find little sat- 



isfaction from any earthly enjoy nient. The world 
has lost its power to attract and to charm, and is 
receding from their view. The companions of 
their youth and their early friends have gone and 
Icit them alone. Through the course of their 
weary pilgrimage, many an arrow, from the quiver 
of the king of terrors, has pierced the heart of a 
friejid or relative, and caused their own heart to 
bleed. And now, when they look around to find 
those who shared with them the pleasures' of 
youth, and with whom they can recount the 
scenes of early life, they are gone from them, and 
are hidden from their view irr the cold and silent 
grave. And their own dearest companions, their 
parents, their bosom companions, and some of 
their children, perhaps the most, or even all, are 
also gone. What then have they to sustain and 
cheer them under the i\\^ and sorrows of life ? 
Have they liealth of body or vigor of mind? 
These are also gone. Infirmities, pains, and dis- 
eases are their constant companions ; and tlieir 
intellectual powers, and mental energy are greatly 
impaired. Their capacity for acquiring knowl- 
edge is lost, and v/hat they have gained is fast 
passing'from their memory. If they read, or hear 
anything instructive or interestir.g, it makes but a 
faint impression upon then* minds, and is soon en- 
tirely forgotten, or but indistinctly recollected. 
The sources of earthly enjoyment to them are in a 
great measure dried up ; the pleasures of social in- 
tercourse fail, and the}^ retire from the world, op- 
pressed with tlie weight of years and various ills, 
and are daily admonished that " the time of their 
departure is at harj<L" 

But though their life be protracted to fourscore 
years, yet " it is soon cut off, and they fly away." 
However long life may be, it soon passes away 



and is terminated. For "man that is born of a 
woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He 
Cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down. He 
fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Hi« 
days are as grass :' as a flower of the field, so he 
flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it 
is gone ; and the place thereof shall know it nc 



more." 



The sentiment contained in our text is very 
forcibly and afFectingly expressed by Jacob in his 
account of his own life to Pharaoh. " The days 
of the years of nij pilgrimage are an hundred and 
thirty years : few and evil have the days of the 
years of my life been, and have not attained un- 
to the days of the years of the life of my fathers 
in the days of their pilgrimage." Though he 
had lived an hundred and thirty years, he calls 
them few and evil. And he calls them afeio 
days. And when these few days of men's lives 
have passed away, they will go " whence they will 
not return." For '-he that goeth down to the 
grave shall come up no more. He shall return 
no more to his house, neither shall his plac§ know 
him any more." — Hence we may infer, 

1. The unreasonableness of looking upon this 
world as our home and our portion. — Were we 
destined to live here always, or were there any 
proportion between our present and future state 
of existence, the world might v;ith more pro- 
priety engross our attention and engage our alfec* 
lions. But " what is our life ? It is even a vapor, 
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanish- 
etli away," The time is short at tlie longest. 
" If by reason of strength it be fourscore yeai^s, 
it is soon cut oiT, and we fly away." Many how- 
ever die in the morning of life, or their sun goes 
TTAAop at noon. And our life is not only short, 



but altogether uncertain. And the king of ter- 
rors may soon receive his commission, and sud- 
denly and unexpectedly arrest us amidst our world- 
ly engagements, and eager pursuit of earthly 
good, like the rich man, whose lands brought forth 
plentifully. He determined to pull down his 
barns, and build greater, and then to say to his 
soul, " Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for ma- 
ny years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be mer- 
ry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this night 
thy soul shall be required of thee." And equally 
great is the folly of all,who '^ lay up treasures for 
themselves, and are not rich toward Go(}." Let 
them gain ever so much of this worid,they can car- 
ry nothing away with them,but must soon leave it 
all. All their worldly schemes will then forever 
be disconcerted, and their bright prospects of 
earthly enjoyment be blasted, and they will 
" have no more a portion forever, in any tliiag 
that is done under the sun." From these delu- 
sive scenes, and these fading and unsatisfying en- 
joyments they will pass into a permanent and ev- 
erlasting state of existence, where they must be 
completely and eternally happy or miserable. 
Instead therefore of looking upon this world as 
their home,they should extend their views forward 
to that all-important state, and feel as "strangers 
and pilgrims here on the earth." They should 
be deeply concerned to have " a good hope through 
grace," and look upon heaven as their home. In- 
stead of choosing this world as their portion, and 
being mainly concerned about the things of the 
present life, and to lay up fading treasures on 
earth, they should choose God as their portion ; 
" seek an enduring substance," and " lay up 
treasures in heaven." And they should seek 
this world in reference to that eternal state ; sub- 



I 5 

ordinate evdry temporal interest to their eternal 
good, and the grand interests of God's everlasting 
kingdom, and always act with reference to that sol- 
emn account, which they must tender to their final 
Judge. They should therefore be careful not to 
set their afrectioiis on earthly objects, and to '-use 
the world as not abusing it," seeking it with pure 
motives, and employing it in promoting the divine 
glory, and their own and othei's' spiritual good 
and real enjoyment. But *• what will it profit 
them, if they gain the whole world and lose 
their own souls." The more they have of the 
world, if they misimprove and abuse it, the deep- 
er will it sink them in future misery. How im- 
portant then that they should rightly improve 
the world, and constantly keep their end in view. 
And how unreascaable to look upon this world 
as their home, and choose it as their portion. 

2. The subject will teach us the importance of 
improving our various privileges, while life last^, 
and the capacity for improvement is possessed. — 
We enjoy numerous and rich privileges and 
means of intellectual, moral and religious im- 
provement. We enjoy a variety of means for 
cultivating our minds, and gaining useful knowl- 
edge, both intellectual and spiritual. We have 
means and opportunities for storing our minds 
with information on various subjects of a general 
nature. Schools and higher literary institutions 
are established for the cultivation of the youthful 
mind, and leading it to an acquaintance with the 
useful sciences. Social libraries are founded, and 
there is a vast variety v,f. books, pa?>}phlets and 
tracts, on general kuowdedge and religion, pub- 
lished, and circulated, which come more or less 
within the reach of all. And that best of all 
books, the Bible, is in nearly every family amonjf 



/' 



M • 



1) 

Us. And many enjoy besides a preached gospel, 
" which is able to make them wise unto salvation, 
and is the power of God unto salvation to every 
one that beiieveth." What invahiable means of 
knowh^dge and improvement are then in our 
possession. But how lon^^ they will be continu- 
ed, or how long we shafl live to enjoy them, is 
entirely uncertain. Of this however we may be 
assured, that, ii we live our threescore years and 
ten, or even fourscore, they will soon pass away. 
And long before " they are numbered and finish- 
ed," our faculties will be impaired, and our ca- 
pacity for farther improvement lost. When ar- , 
rived at the age of seventy or eighty, instead of 
making farther improvement, and advancing in 
knowledge, the mind is then generally in ruins. 
At that period many a gigantic intellect has been 
reduced to a mere wreck, a truly affecting spec- 
tacle of the weakness and frailty of mortal man. 
When mankind have arrived at the meridian of 
life, and begin to descend towards " the valley of 
the shadow of death," not only their bodies, but 
their minds generally begin to decay. The best 
time for mental improvement is therefore then 
past. How important then that the previous time 
and opportunities should be wisely a^d diligently 
improved. How important that our youth should 
highly prize, and diligently improve the advan- 
tages for gaining knowledge, which they enjoy. 
Youth is a golden season for laying up useful 
knowledge. Then the imagination is lively, the 
memory is retentive, the conscience is tender, 
and the mind is free from anxious and perplex- 
ing worldly cares. Let them then improve these 
advantages be fore they are lost. And let all, who 
still have a capacity for mental cultivation, im- 
prove it carefully while it remains, remember- 



ins; that soon it will h^ gone. The memory 
Will fail, and their miiid will be shaitered, and it 
will be more than tliey can do to reiai.j what 
knowledge they have gained. Therefore let them 
" get wisdom, and get understanding." Especial- 
ly let them strive to gain religious knowledge, 
and '• acquaint themselves with God," and learn 
to know Jesus Christ, " whom to know is life 
eternal." 

3. We learn the importance of being prepared 
to die. — Our life will soon " be cut off, and we shall 
fly away." If we live seventy or eighty years, 
they will soon pass away, and be gone. And but 
few of us will probably arrive to that age. And 
fewer still will get religion at that age. Having 
no love to God and divine things, people are prone, 
like Felix, to put off an attention to religion tb 
some more " convenient season," perhaps to a dy- 
ing bed, or to old age. And probably some here 
present are, with these views, " casting off fear, and 
restraining prayer before God." You do not mean 
to die without an interest in Christ, and go tahelL 
But you have no heart now to engage in the 
great work of preparation for eternity. You do 
not realize that " noiv is the accepted time, and 
noto is the day of salvation." But you hope it 
will be " an accepted time" for you, when you 
become old. What foundation however have 
you for such a hope ? Do you expect, when your 
mental vigor is gone, your moral sense blunted, 
and you are hardened in sin, that you will then 
be more disp )sed than now to attend to the infi- 
nitely momentous concerns of your souls ? Does 
fact \yarrant the expectation ? Do those, who 
have neglected religion all their days, at this late 
period, appear more sericuslj disposed, and give 
evidence of genuine repc^ntance and a thorough 



11 

I 

conversion to God ? Or do not those, who become 
ti'uely pious, generally commence a life of godli- 
ness, in the morning, or, at least, in the meridian 
of life ? But even were you sure that you should 
obtain an interest in Christ after you had spent a 
long life in sm, and when you were about to leave 
the world, it would be both migrateful and un- 
reasonable to neglect religion to that period. It 
would be ungrateful to spend your spared lives in 
rebellion against 3 our kind preserver and heavenly 
benefactor,and abuse his longsuflfering and sparing 
mercy. And it would be unreasonable ; because, 
under the infirmities and sorrows of old age, you 
would greatly need the supports and consolations 
of religion. 

4. The subject addresses itself to the mourners 
present. — You are called to mourn the death of a 
father and friend, who was spared to you till he was 
more than fourscore ; who came with the first set- 
tlers into this town, and endured with them the 
hardships and privations of those trying times. 
And by the blessing of God, on his labors and en- 
terprise, he obtained for his family a competent 
supply of the necessaries, comforts and convenien- 
cies of life. And he has left yon generally 
in easy circumstances, and holdiug a respectable 
standing in society. How great then are your 
obligations to God ; and how deeply does it con- 
cern you all to enquire what you sliail render to 
the Most High,and to strive to exert a salutary in- 
fluence upon others around you, and to promote 
the cause of the blessed Redeemer in the world. 
You d@ exert an influence, wdiich is not small. 
And it highly concerns you to see that your in- 
fluence be favourable to the best interests of this 
town, and of morality and religion. The lAore 
property you possess, and the higher your stand- 



1^ 

ilig, the more influence you will have, and the 
more good or evil you wHl necessarily do. Be 
careful therefore to set an example, which will 
have a salutary effect, and which may be safely 
followed by your children and others. Labor to 
suppress discord, and promote peace, harmony, 
good will and kind feelings. " For where envy- 
ing and strife is, says inspiration, there is confu- 
sion and every evil work." " Let there be no 
strife among yourselves, for* ye are brethren." 
Bury ail dissension, and cultivate a kind, forgiv- 
ing, peaceable, benevolent, meek, humble spirit. 
Imbibe, exercise, and display the spirit of Christ, 
and then you will be blessings in your families, 
blessings in this town, and blessings in the world. 
And you will be blessed forever in heaven. But ii 
you manifest a different spirit, and pursue a differ- 
ent course, O what will .be your influence here, 
and what your feelings, your condemnation, and 
your state in the coming world ! Be entreated 
therefore to remember that " the Judge standeth 
before the door," to keep that solemn day of ac- 
count in view, and to live so that you may live 
together in heaven ; and others, who come after 
you, may " rise up and call you blessed." 

Finally, let all present consider that, " if the 
djiys of your years be fourscore years, they will 
soon fly away;" and be careful to "spend them 
all in wisdom's ways." Make religion the object 
of your supreme regard. Realize that this only 
will fit you for usefulness here, and for glory be- 
yond the grave ; and that, without this, death will 
be a terror to you ; you will meet the frowns of 
your Judge, and will " rise to shame and everlast- 
ing contempt." 

ERRATjAS.— In page 3, 2d lino from the bottom, for animosity, re.id 
«n.m<y.-- In pa^e 4, I0tl» line from the toit.Jor uithf:re<I_ leaJ trWjirTie^.*. 



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